You probably recognize this eternal mom dilemma: “How on earth am I going to make this chicken new and fresh tonight?” Let’s face it . . . We all love chicken, and we know it’s good for us. But how can we reinvent plain-old chicken night after night so our families don’t die of boredom? You always have to be on the lookout for fresh, new ideas. Here’s one that’s been working for my family lately – they love it, and I think yours will too. It’s a lighter take on the classic chicken parmesan.

First, prepare your dredging station. You will need three medium-size bowls. Place the flour in one, eggs in the second bowl and the panko bread crumbs in the third.

Add a generous amount of salt and pepper to the flour bowl. Set aside while you prepare your chicken.

Place one chicken breast in between two sheets of plastic wrap and use a meat mallet or a heavy pan to carefully pound it down. You want the chicken to be the same thickness throughout.

Remove the chicken from the plastic wrap and cut in half. Season the chicken well with salt and pepper.

Place chicken in the seasoned flour and gently tap off the excess flour.

Next, place your floured chicken into the egg bowl.

Then into the panko.

Make sure the chicken is covered with panko bread crumbs and then place on a wire rack that has been sprayed with cooking spray, on top of a baking sheet. Repeat each step with the rest of the chicken.

Spray the breaded chicken generously with cooking spray.

Place in a 375˚F oven for 10 minutes. Remove from oven after 10 minutes and turn the chicken over and spray again with cooking spray. Return to the oven for an additional 10 minutes.

While the chicken is cooking, take a minute to strain your chunky tomato sauce.

Place the sauce in a large fine mesh strainer and remove a bit of the excess liquid. Remove the chicken from the oven when the second 10 minutes is up. Place a large spoonful of tomato sauce on top of the chicken along with the cheese.

Return to the oven for an additional 5 minutes or until the sauce has warmed through and the cheese has melted.

Remove from the oven, let cool for a few minutes before serving. It tastes great on its own or with a big bowl of pasta. Let me know if this helps you break out of the chicken rut!

As a self-taught photographer and home cook, Heather is passionate about creating recipes for family and friends, finding crafty DIY projects and inventing fun activities that bring the family closer together.